Of all of the things that you might worry about when you leave your car parked in a lot or on the street, probably one of the last was that someone would go underneath your car, pull out a power saw and cut out your catalytic converter.

However, it’s a crime that is surging, according to Jefferson and Orleans parish law enforcement officials, who add that it is a national trend.

The converters, which cost car owners several hundred dollars to replace, are a lure for thieves because of the valuable metals inside, like platinum and palladium, both of which are sought in underground markets.

“It’s more than I’ve ever seen in my life,” exclaimed Mike Anderson, a mechanic who had a few dozen converters stolen from his store and who has also worked on dozens of cars whose converters were cut out. “I’m just one shop. I’m getting 15-20 calls per week and there are other shops that are getting about the same, so it’s really an epidemic.”

Kenner Police Chief Steve Caraway said his officers have developed some suspects, and they're also looking at junk dealers in the area. Authorities believe junkyards are a destination for the thieves to sell the parts, though often they are not junkyards from the area.

"They're required to report to us things that they buy,” said Caraway. “So it's not uncommon for thieves to go elsewhere and sell their wares."

Caraway said recently that thieves struck at a car dealership in Kenner, swiping 17 converters from cars in the lot.

"These criminals need to know that when we catch them, it's a felony first of all, and it's a very serious felony,” said Caraway. “This isn't a $50 piece for a car. These things cost thousands of dollars to replace."